Soap saver tray



Dec. 11, 1945. R. A. ENDEBROCK 2,390,874

SOAP SAVER TRAY Filed Feb. 29, 1944 1 INVEN'I 'OR.

' Robe/f A. Endebrock.

Patented Dec. 11, 1945 UNITED STATE S PATENT OFFICE 10 Claims.

This invention relates to a soap saver tray, and is concerned particularly with such a tray applicable to an ordinary bucket, with which it bears a novel cooperative relationship.

An object of the invention is to provide an arrangement of tray and bucket such that the soap bar held by the tray will always be conveniently associated with the bucket, yet protected from the dissolving effect of water, whether the bucket be carried about, tilted to empty it of water, or rested upon its bottom during use.

Another object is to provide means in connection with a soap saver tray, to support the tray stationarily upon the bail and an edge of the bucket during use, so that th tray will not interfere with normal usage of the bucket.

Another object is to provide a tray of the character stated, which automatically assumes a series of out-of-the-way positions as the bucket is lifted, tilted, or rested on its bottom during use. I

A further object is to provide a tray of the kind referred to, which is simple, inexpensive, and easy to apply and remove when necessary or desirable.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the means described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmental perspectvie view of the tray applied to a bucket having a bail.

Fig. 2 is a fragmental side view of the bucket and tray, showing their relationship when the bucket is tilted.

Fig. 3 is an end view of a modified form of tray, part being broken away.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modification.

In the drawing is illustrated an ordinary bucket 4, sometimes referred to as a scrub bucket or pail, provided with the usual swinging handle or bail 5 of heavy wire having its opposite ends 6 engaged in perforations in the ears 1 of the bucket. The manner in which the bail ma: swing is clearly suggested by Fig. 2.

The soap tray, as will be understood from the drawing, is constructed to depend from the bucket bail and to swing freely thereon when the bucket is lifted by means of the bail, 0r tilted in accordance with Fig. 2. In the use condition of the bucket (Fig. 1), free movement of the tray is arrested by the action of a catch or hook 8 engaging the roll or bead 9 at the upper annular edge of the bucket, as will be more fully explained hereafter.

The soap tray as illustratedby Figs. 1 and 2, comprises a single sheet of rigid material such as metal, plastic or composition material, bent transversely of its length as at H! to provide arms or hangers I2 and a base or support portion l3 for a bar of soap or the like. The ends of the tray are preferably bent vertically upwardly from the base and are disposed in spaced parallelism.

A long slot I4, which extends the full length of the base and substantially the full length of the hanger arms, is located medially of the tray and in effect divides the tray into two identical opposite halves. The ends I5 of the slot, which terminate in the free end portions N5 of the hanger arms, provide bearings to engage the bail wire 5, so that the tray may hang vertically by the force of gravity in all swinging positions of the bail. It will be noted that the medial slot bisects the subtsantially triangular ends or arms I2 of the tray, and the slot is nearly as long as the combined lengths of the hanger arms and the base or support portion. l3. Thus the tray fits, the bail as a saddle, and may have free swinging movement relative thereto.

In order that a bar of soapplaced upon the tray may be retained thereon, the sides of the tray maybe provided with a series of upstanding flanges ll spaced apart where the flaps or ears 8 are struck therefrom in a downward direction, thereby to provide drainage channels l8 at opposite sides of the tray. Similar drainage channels may beformed atv the locations I9, by foreshortening the flanges in the region of the hanger arms.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be appreciated that tilting of the bucket while grasping the bail between the hanger arms 12, results in vertical disposition of the tray at such an elevation that the contacts of the bucket may be poured therefrom without obstruction by the soap tray. If upon emptying the bucket it be righted and carried by means of the bail or handle, the soap tray will assume a position directly beneath the bail and astride of a vertical line perpendicular to the center of the pail or bucket bottom. Thus, the pail or bucket may be carried about from place to place, without liability of the soap tray dipping into the contents of the bucket, as the hanger arms are of such length that the base portion of the tray is above the annular upper edge of the bucket while the bucket is being carried by means of the ba l.

Upon resting the bucket in upright position upon a floor or other surface,.the bail will naturally fall to one side or the other due to its hinge connection at 5. In that event, the lower surface of the base or supporting portion of the tray will descend upon the circumferentially rolled edge 9 of the bucket, with the depending flap or ear 8 disposed exteriorly of the bucket edge. In that position of the soap tray, it will be disposed to one side of the bucket so that free access may be had to the interior of the bucket at the opposite side thereof. The depending flaps or ears at opposite sides of the base or support portion thereby provide catches or hooks precluding movement or undesirable displacement of the soap tray as long as the bail is not grasped for lifting the bucket. As previously stated, drainage of the soap bar is provided for at the locations l8 and I9, as well as at the center line of the base or support portion I3, where the intermediate portion of the elongated slot I4 is located.

It may here be noted that the soap tray disclosed by Figs. 1 and 2, may be constructed of a single sheet of bendable or moldable material, and When fabricated from sheet metal, it may be formed by means of a single press operation. The device accordingly may be manufactured at an exceedingly low cost, and at high production speed. To attach it to a bucket handle or bail, it is necessary only to lower it over the handle until the bearing portions [5 contact the handle as indicated. The device may be removed in an instant be merely lifting it off the handle.

In that form of the tray illustrated by Fig, 3, the medial slot is omitted and in place thereof a side slot is provided in each hanger arm, preferably at an inclination to the center line of the hanger arm. The necessary drainage for the soap bar may be provided by perforating the base or support portion as indicated at 21; vice illustrated by Fig. 3 includes the flanges l1 and the depending flaps or cars 8 to latch or hook the tray to the upper edge of the bucket or pail,

as previously explained. Preferably, though not.

necessarily, a spring metal hook or latch 22 may securely be anchored at 23 in the material of each hanger arm, so that the eye 24 of the hook will partially surround the bearing end of the slot, the eye preferably having a depressed or inwardly turned resilient portion 25 to frictionally hold the'bail within the bearings provided by the hanger arm slots. When it is desired to disassociate the Fig. 3 soap tray from the bail, the bail may be forced past the hump or depressed portion 25 of the resilient hook 22, and be thereby released from the slot. As will be understood, the opposed hanger arms may each be provided with a latch such as is indicated at 22, or with any equivalent form of latch or look for more or less securely attaching the soap tray to the bail. The slot 20 may extend inwardly from either side edge of the hanger arm, at any desired inclination or in parallelism with the base, and by utilizing a suitable latch or keeper, it is possible also to furnish a slot extending downwardly from the upper edge of the hanger arm.

In that form of the device illustrated by Fig. 4, the hanger arms are formed of separate lengths of rod, bar or heavy wire stock, and are indicated by the characters 26. Each hanger arm is welded, clinched or otherwise suitably fixed to the end portions of the base or tray element 21, at the locations 28. The upper ends of the hanger arms 26 are turned upon themselves and directed downwardly to provide slots 29 within the loops formed by turning the ends as stated. Drainage for the base or support area of the tray may be provided in an suitable manner, such as by punching or otherwise forming elongated perforations 30 therein. At opposite sides, the base The demay be cut to form the depending ears or flaps 3!, which furnish drainage channels and hooks or catches to engage the upper annular edge of the bucket, as was fully explained in the preceding description. The sides of the tray are indicated at 32, and the ends, at 33. The cooperative relationship of the Fig. 4 device with the bail and the upper edge of the bucket, is the same as.

was explained in connection with Figs. 1, 2 and 3, that is, the hooks or catches areso located as to engage the upper edge of the bucket automatically when the bail is thrown to one side or the other of a Vertical plane passing through the center of the bucket.

The device of the invention is capable of various modifications, and changes in materials and design, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims. It will at once be evident, for example, that non-metallic as well as sheet metal may be employed in manufacture, and that variations in shape and size may be made. Obvious also, is the provision of additional or different forms of drainage channels or perforations in the base'or support portion of the tray, while in the device as modified, (Fig. 3) any acceptable form of latch or keeper may be employed. Moreover, by properly predetermining the angularity or shape of the slot 29, the need for any type of latch or keeper may be obviated, as in Fig. 1.

The hanger arms and the base or support for the soap bar may be ribbed or corrugated, if desired, for imparting added strength and rigidity when lightgauge materials are employed in' the manufacture of the device.

If desired, the device may be made in two iden tical halves spaced apart to form a slot such as M, the halves being crimped or otherwise joined together along a vertical seam or joint extending upwardly of bearing l5, along a line that bisects the width of the slot. When so constructed, the bearing portion of the slot presented to the bail, will comprise several thicknesses of metal having the eifect of reinforcing the bearing area.

What is claimed is:

1. In a soap tray for application to a bucket having a bail in spanning relationship thereto, the combination which comprises a soap supporting base portion including a catch to engage the peripheral upper edge of the bucket, and means extending upwardly adjacent to the ends of the 'base portion, and including bearing means intermediate the sides of the base portion, for engaging the bail and suspending said base portion horizontally for free swinging movement directly beneath the bail as the bucket is carried by means of the bail.

2. In a soap tray for application to a bucket having a swinging bail, the combination which comprises, a soap supporting base portion and means for swingingly suspending said base portion from the bail, said suspending means being of such length as to dispose the base portion above the level of the bucket when the bucket is carried by means of the bail, and to guide the base portion onto the top edge of the bucket when carried by means of the bail, and to guide the base portion onto the top edge of the bucket when the bail is swung to one side of the vertical position, and means on the side of the base portion of the tray for engaging the edge of the bucket, to limit movement of the tray centerward of the bucket while the bail is disposed to the position last mentioned.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a swinging soap tray comprising a base portion and a pair of upright hanger arms at opposite ends of the base portion, the hanger arms and the base portion being slotted for placement of the tray astride a bucket bail.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a one-piece soap tray comprising a base portion and a pair of upright hanger arms at opposite ends of the base portion, the hanger arms and the base portion being slotted to bisect the arms and base portion, for placement of the tray astride a bucket bail.

6. As a new article of manufacture, a soap tray comprising a base portion and hanger means upstanding upon the base portion for suspending the latter, said hanger means being slotted to accept the wire bail of a bucket, and displaceable means in temporary obstructing relationship with the slot, to latch the hanger means to the bail.

'7. A soap holder for application to the swinging bail of a bucket or pail, which bail includes a central hand grasp portion, said holder comprising a tray and upstanding elongated hanger arms having bearing means thereon, said bearing means making pivotal contact with the bail, and being located above the tray in position to balance the latter for free swinging suspension substantially horizontally beneath the hand grasp portion, as the bail is tilted relative to the bucket or pail, the hanger arms being of a length sufficient to suspend the tray wholly beneath the level of the central hand grasp portion of the bail.

8. A soap holder for application to the swinging bail of a bucket or pail, which bail includes a central hand grasp portion, said holder comprising a tray and upstanding elongated hanger arms having bearing means thereon, said bearing means providing two points of suspension spaced apart for engaging the bail at opposite sides of said central hand grasp portion, the points of suspension being pivotal and located above the tray as to ensure free swinging suspension of the tray substantially horizontally, as the bail is tilted relative to the bucket or pail, the distance between the points of suspension being at least as great as the width of the human hand, and the length of the hanger arms being substantially greater than the depth of the tray.

9. As a new article of manufacture, a soap holder comprising a tray having a bottom and opposite ends, and suspension means in the form of hanger arms upstanding substantially at right angles upon the tray bottom at the ends thereof, said suspension means providing a, pair of suspension points spaced apart a distance exceeding the width of the human palm, both suspension points being located above the tray ends in a vertical plane substantially bisecting the tray bottom.

10. In a soap tray for application to a bucket having a swinging bail with a central hand grasp portion, the combination which comprises, a soap supporting base portion and means for swingingly suspending said base portion from the bail at two points spaced apart at opposite sides of the hand grasp portion of the bail, said suspending means being of such length as to dispose the base portion above the level of the bucket when the bucket is carried by means of the bail, and to guide the base portion to a predetermined seating relationship upon the bucket as the bail is swung toward one side of the bucket, and means to limit movement of the tray centerward of the bucket while seated.

ROBERT A. ENDEBROCK. 

